Wireless Service Card Having Machine Readable Codes and Device and Process for Use Therewith

ABSTRACT

A process for authorizing wireless service includes providing a generally rectangular flat form factor card having a first surface and opposing second surface. The process further includes providing a machine-readable activation code arranged on the first surface, wherein the machine-readable activation code is configured to authorize the wireless service when provided to a system associated with a wireless service provider, receiving the machine-readable activation code in a server, the machine-readable activation code being captured by a wireless device, and provisioning the wireless service to the wireless device from a wireless network when the machine-readable activation code is provided to the system associated with the wireless network.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/867,078, filed May 5, 2020 now U.S. Pat. No. 10,887,472 issued Jan.5, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety;which application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/444,426, filed Jun. 18, 2019 now U.S. Pat. No. 10,645,231 issued May5, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety;which application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/964,034, filed Dec. 9, 2015 now U.S. Pat. No. 10,326,891 issued Jun.18, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 1. Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to an automated device and process for use inconjunction with a wireless service card for providing wireless serviceson wireless devices. More particularly, the disclosure relates to anautomated device and process for use in conjunction with a wirelessservice card having a machine readable code for providing wirelessservices on wireless devices.

2. Related Art

A large number of wireless service plans exist for customers desiringwireless cellular services such as data, talk, and text messaging.Customers generally have the option of entering into a post-paid service(e.g., contract for a period of time) or a pre-paid, contract-freeservice. A Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) is a network operatorthat typically does not own its own frequency spectrum or have its ownwireless network infrastructure. MVNOs negotiate and enter into businessagreements with third party wireless carriers to purchase the right touse their networks for wireless services including a volume of data,number of minutes of airtime (voice calling), and number of textmessages used.

MVNOs often utilize wireless service cards, also known as airtime cardsor activation cards, for purchasing and/or adding wireless service, e.g.talk airtime, service days, data, or text messaging for a particularwireless device. Mobile network operators (MNOs) can use wirelessservice cards as well. Wireless service cards generally include a uniquecode that may include a scratch off coating obscuring the unique codethat includes a long series of numbers and/or letters. The codes maytypically be obscured to reduce fraudulent use thereof. The codes arecorrelated to a wireless service and are stored in a MVNO's database.Once a card is sold to a user, the user must manually scratch off thecovering of the code and manually enter the code into the phone or in acomputer linked to the MVNO's database to activate and/or provide thewireless service for a wireless device.

However, some wireless customers have a difficult time transcribing ormanually entering the unique code from a wireless service card toactivate or renew a wireless service plan. These customers include, butnot limited to, seniors, people with Dyslexia (up to 20% of thepopulation), people with Dyscalculia (between 3% and 6% of thepopulation), and the 1 in 7 U.S. adults who cannot read. Moreover,transcribing or manually entering the unique code from a wirelessservice card to activate or renew a wireless service plan can be timeconsuming, bothersome and/or frustrating for others.

Accordingly, there is a need to simplify and automate the process bywhich customers utilize the unique code from a wireless service card toactivate or renew a wireless service plan.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the disclosure,providing a device and associated methods for providing wirelessservices on wireless devices and/or systems by implementing a machinereadable code with a wireless service card and/or utilizing a devicethat reads the machine readable code from a wireless service card. Thus,the disclosure improves a customer experience by using machine-readablewireless service cards. This makes it easier for customers who have adifficult time or cannot read numbers, reduces the time it takes torefill an account with associated wireless service, eliminates numberentry errors, and the like.

In one aspect, a process for authorizing wireless service, the processincludes providing a generally rectangular flat form factor card havinga first surface and opposing second surface, providing amachine-readable activation code arranged on the first surface, whereinthe machine-readable activation code is configured to authorize thewireless service when provided to a system associated with a wirelessservice provider, receiving the machine-readable activation code in aserver, the machine-readable activation code being captured by awireless device, and provisioning the wireless service to the wirelessdevice from a wireless network when the machine-readable activation codeis provided to the system associated with the wireless network.

In another aspect, a wireless device configured for authorizing wirelessservice includes a camera configured to capture a machine-readableactivation code, wherein the machine-readable activation code isconfigured to authorize the wireless service when provided to a systemassociated with a wireless service provider, a processor furtherconfigured to store the machine-readable activation code captured by thecamera in a memory, a transceiver configured to transmit themachine-readable activation code from the memory to a server, and thetransceiver further configured to provide the wireless service from awireless network when the machine-readable activation code is providedto the system associated with the wireless network.

In yet another aspect, a system for authorizing wireless serviceincludes a server configured to store a plurality of machine-readableactivation codes, wherein each one of the plurality of machine-readableactivation codes is configured to authorize the wireless serviceassociated with a wireless service provider, the server furtherconfigured to receive one of the plurality of machine-readableactivation codes, one of the plurality of machine-readable activationcodes being captured by a wireless device, the server further configuredto authenticate one of the plurality of machine-readable activationcodes, and the server further configured to provision the wirelessservice to the wireless device from a wireless network when one of theplurality of machine-readable activation codes is determined to beauthentic for providing wireless service from the wireless network.

In a further aspect a system for funding an account includes a serverconfigured to store a plurality of machine-readable activation codes,wherein each one of the plurality of machine-readable activation codesis configured to authorize funding associated with a provider, theserver further configured to receive one of the plurality ofmachine-readable activation codes, one of the plurality ofmachine-readable activation codes being captured by a wireless device,the server further configured to authenticate one of the plurality ofmachine-readable activation codes, and the server further configured toprovide funding when one of the plurality of machine-readable activationcodes is determined to be authentic for providing funding.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain aspects of thedisclosure in order that the detailed description thereof herein may bebetter understood, and in order that the present contribution to the artmay be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional aspects ofthe disclosure that will be described below and which will also form thesubject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one aspect of the disclosurein detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited inits application to the details of construction and to the arrangementsof the components set forth in the following description or illustratedin the drawings. The disclosure is capable of aspects in addition tothose described and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conceptionupon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basisfor the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the disclosure. It is important, therefore,that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructionsinsofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of thedisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above mentioned features and aspects of the disclosure will becomemore apparent with reference to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like referencenumerals denote like elements and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic of a wireless device with exemplarycomponents in accordance with aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary wireless device with a display of a homescreen and a subsequent screen of a wireless service activationapplication with a graphical user interface in accordance with an aspectof the disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a wireless service card having a machine-readablecode in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates exemplary method steps, which may be used toimplement scanning a machine-readable code in accordance with aspects ofthe disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic diagram of an exemplary wireless serviceactivation system in accordance with aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates exemplary method steps, which may be used toimplement the system of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In this specification and claims it is to be understood that referenceto a “wireless device” is intended to encompass any compatible computingdevice that can connect to a wireless communication network, such asmobile phones, personal computers, PDAs, hotspots, tablet computers,gaming systems, MP3 players, mobile equipment, mobile stations, cellularphones, smartphones, handsets, (e.g., Apple iPhone, Google Android,Microsoft Windows or Blackberry based devices, other types of PDAs orsmartphones), wireless dongles, fall detection devices, securitysystems, devices implemented as Internet of things (IOT), other mobilecomputing devices and the like. The term “wireless device” may beinterchangeably used and referred to herein as “wireless handset,”“handset,” “mobile device,” “device,” “mobile phones,” “mobileequipment,” “mobile station,” “user equipment,” “cellular phone,”“smartphones,” or “phone.”

A “point-of-sale” as used herein can refer to a location where one ormore wireless devices and/or services can be sold and/or activated whichmay or may not require sales personnel. A point-of-sale can include, forexample, a vending machine, an automated kiosk, a retailer store, akiosk in a mall, a gas station, a convenience store, and the like. Thepoint-of-sale can further include a web-based retailer.

Wireless devices may connect to a “wireless network” or “network” andare intended to encompass any type of wireless network to obtain orprovide wireless phone services through the use of a wireless device,such as the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) network,Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, 4G Long-Term Evolution(LTE) network, 5G network (fifth-generation wireless network), a networkassociated with a communication channel as defined herein, or the likethat may utilize the teachings of the disclosure to sell, activate,monitor, redeem, and/or track, the usage of one or more wirelessservices.

Reference in this specification to “one aspect,” “an aspect,” “otheraspects,” “one or more aspects” or the like means that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theaspect is included in at least one aspect of the disclosure. Theappearances of, for example, the phrase “in one aspect” in variousplaces in the specification are not necessarily all referring to thesame aspect, nor are separate or alternative aspects mutually exclusiveof other aspects. Moreover, various features are described which may beexhibited by some aspects and not by others. Similarly, variousrequirements are described which may be requirements for some aspectsbut not for other aspects.

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic of a wireless device with exemplarycomponents in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. A wirelessdevice 100 may include a camera 138 that is multifunctional. The camera138 may be used to capture images such as of a person or place,biometric readings such as a fingerprint or a retina, letters, symbols,and numbers (optical character reading), image of a bar code such as QRcode, Data Matrix (DM) code, Universal Product Code (UPC), and the like.The camera 138 may be on the front, back, sides and the like of thewireless device 100.

In a particular aspect, the camera 138 may include functionality as abarcode reader or a QR code reader. A QR code (Quick Response Code) is atype of matrix barcode (or two-dimensional barcode). The barcode is amachine-readable optical label that contains information about the itemto which it is attached. A QR code uses a number of standardizedencoding modes including numeric, alphanumeric, byte/binary, and thelike to efficiently store data. The QR code may include black modulesarranged in a square grid on a white background, which can be read bythe camera 138 or other imaging device and processed using Reed-Solomonerror correction until the image can be appropriately interpreted. Therequired data may then be extracted from patterns that are present inboth horizontal and vertical components of the image.

In a particular aspect, the camera 138 may include functionality as aData Matrix code reader. A Data Matrix code is a two-dimensional matrixbarcode including black and white “cells” or modules arranged in eithera square or rectangular pattern. The Data Matrix code may be implementedwith the ECC 200 version of Data Matrix and include Reed-Solomon codesfor error and erasure recovery. Other protocols and/or versions of DataMatrix are contemplated as well.

In a particular aspect, the camera 138 may include functionality as aUniversal Product Code (UPC) reader. The UPC is a barcode symbologyutilizing protocols such as UPC-A, UPC-E, EAN, UPC-B, UPC-C UPC-D,UPC-2, UPC-5 and the like.

The camera 138 can be in communication with a processor 102, a memory104, and a user interface 120. Moreover, the camera 138 may be in directcommunication with an analog to digital converter. Accordingly, thecamera 138 may capture the machine readable code, such as a bar code, QRcode, or the like and generate an analog signal. The analog signal maybe converted to a digital signal for processing by the processor 102.The processor 102 may be a central processing unit configured to executeinstructions such as instructions related to software programs. Anyprocessor such as a microprocessor, FPGA, an ASIC, a controller, and thelike can be used in the wireless device 100 as understood to those ofordinary skill in the art.

The wireless device 100 may further include a display 118 that may be aliquid crystal display (LCD), LED (light emitting diodes), OLED, and thelike. Preferably the LCD includes a backlight to illuminate the variouscolor liquid crystals to provide a more colorful display. The graphicaluser interface 120 may be any type of physical input as readily employedin the field. For example, the graphical user interface 120 may havephysical buttons having alphanumeric labels thereon that can be used toenter a sequence of numbers, letters, symbols, or a combination thereof.Alternatively, the graphical user interface 120 may be implemented on atouchscreen 122 having a motion sensor (not shown), and the like.

The memory 104 of the wireless device 100 may further include anoperating system 106 (Windows, Apple IOS, Google Android, etc.), acommunication component 108, a power supply 128 in the form of abattery, a contact/motion component 110, a graphics component 112, awireless service application 114, a database 116, and the like. Theoperating system 106 together with the various components providessoftware functionality for each of the components of the wireless device100. The memory 104 may include a high-speed, random-access memory.Also, the memory 104 may be a non-volatile memory, such as magneticfixed disk storage, SIM, UICC, cloud-based memory, flash memory or thelike. These various components may be connected through variouscommunication lines including a data bus 136.

The wireless device 100 can include an audio input/output device 126.The audio input/output device 126 may include speakers, speaker outputs,and the like, providing sound output; and may include microphones,microphone inputs, and the like, for receiving sound inputs. In anexemplary aspect, the audio input/output device 126 may include ananalog to digital converter and a digital to audio converter for audioinput and output functions, respectively.

The wireless device 100 may include a transceiver 132 that providesradio and signal processing as needed to access a wireless network forservices. The processor 102 may be configured to process call functions,data transfer, and the like and provide an array of services, based onthose functions, to the user.

In an exemplary aspect, the touchscreen 122 of the disclosure may beimplemented in the display 118 (entire or a portion thereof) or separatefrom the display, and may detect a presence and location of a touch offinger or hand of a user within the display area. The touchscreen 122may also sense other passive objects, such as a stylus. The touchscreen122 may be controlled by a touchscreen controller 130.

In one operation, the display 118 may show various objects 124associated with applications for execution by the processor 102. Forexample, a user may touch the display 118, particularly the touchscreen122, to interact with the objects 124. That is, touching an object 124may execute an application stored in the memory 104 by the processor 102and associated with the object 124. Additionally or alternatively,touching the object 124 may open a menu of options to be selected by theuser. The display 118 may include one or more of a plurality of objects124 for the user to interact with. Moreover, the display 118 may includea plurality of screens and show one or more screens at a time. The usermay interact with the display 118 to move a screen into view on thedisplay 118. Various objects 124 may be located in each of the screens.

The touchscreen 122 may be implemented as a resistive touchscreen, asurface acoustic wave touch screen, a capacitive touchscreen,self-capacitance sensors, infrared sensors, dispersive signaltechnology, acoustic pulse recognition, or the like. The display 118 isgenerally configured to display a graphical user interface (GUI) 120that provides an easy to use visual interface between a user of thewireless device 100 and the operating system 106 or application(s)running on the wireless device 100. Generally, the GUI presentsprograms, files and operational options with graphical images. Duringoperation, the user may select and activate various graphical imagesdisplayed on the display 118 in order to initiate functions and tasksassociated therewith.

In another aspect of the disclosure, the memory 104 of the wirelessdevice 100 can include the database 116 for storing user information andactivation codes (valid and not used, currently used, previously used)or information. The user information may include full name, address,email address, contact number, credit card information, and the like. Inone aspect, the database 116 may include security questions. In anotheraspect, the database 116 may include user specified preferences.

In yet another aspect of the application, the memory 104 of a wirelessdevice 100 can include a wireless service application 114. The wirelessservice application 114 may be preinstalled or downloaded from anapplication store (Android Store, Blackberry Store, Windows Store orApple iTunes and the like). The wireless service application 114 may beconfigured to control use of the wireless device 100 based oninteraction with a wireless provider backend system 422 (shown in FIG.5) and/or an activation code, such as a bar code, QR code or an alphanumeric code, for the activation or renewal of a wireless service. Thewireless service application 114 may utilize an internal accountingmodule to establish an account with a representation of prepaid funds oravailable credit for wireless services. This accounting may also beimplemented by one or more switches or systems associated with thewireless network. This accounting may also be implemented by one or moreswitches or systems associated with the wireless network and theinternal accounting module.

In aspects using the internal accounting module, the wireless serviceapplication 114 may also be used to store and/or transmit a plurality ofcharge rates as well as a billing/payment algorithm. The internalaccounting module can classify each wireless service (data, voice, SMS)into one of a plurality of billing categories; receive data correlatedto an activation code (entered or captured by the camera, for example),select a charge rate corresponding to that billing category; calculatean appropriate charge for the data usage, voice usage, and SMS usage inreal time by using the selected charge rate; and apply this appropriatecharge to the account. For example, upon the retrieval and/orverification of a unique identifier of an activation code captured bythe camera 138 or entered via the graphical user interface 120, the oneor more steps may automatically take place to apply an appropriatecharge or credit to the account.

In some aspects, once the internal accounting module determines that theamount of wireless service (data, voice, SMS) used has depleted theaccount to zero or a predetermined amount, the processor 102 mayinteract with the internal accounting module and/or the wirelessprovider backend system 422 to limit, prevent, alert the user, and/orcontrol further use of the wireless device 100 as further describedherein. The controlled use can include suspending voice calls, allowinglimited voice calls, allowing all voice calls, suspending text messages,allowing limited text messages, allowing all text messages, suspendingwireless data service, limiting wireless data service, throttlingwireless data service, and allowing all wireless data service.

In some aspects where the wireless network provides an accounting ofwireless service, once the network-based accounting system determinesthat the amount of wireless service (data, voice, SMS) used has depletedthe account to zero or a predetermined amount, the wireless providerbackend system 422 may limit, prevent, alert the user, and/or controlfurther use of the wireless device 100 as described above.

The wireless service application 114 may also include a module for oneor more system provider host processors, which store wireless deviceidentification information; store operating codes needed for wirelessdevice activation; and store operating codes needed for setting prepaidfunds or available credit amounts in wireless device accounts whereby,upon receipt of wireless device identification information from anactivation code, the host processor may be capable of ascertaining theoperating codes needed to activate that particular wireless device or toset its account amount.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary wireless device 100 with a display of ahome screen 210 and a subsequent screen 250 of a wireless serviceapplication 114 with a graphical user interface, which may be used forthe activation or renewal of wireless service in accordance with anaspect of the disclosure. The home screen 210 may include a plurality oficons, e.g. 124, which may include a calling icon, texting icon,internet icon, and the like, allowing a user to perform one or morefunctions on the wireless device 100. For example, the home screen 210may also display icons for one or more applications that have beendownloaded from the Internet, pre-installed, and/or unlocked/retrieved.The home screen 210 may also include payment and/or authenticationapplications and may include the wireless service application 114.

Some of the payment and/or authentication applications may be stored ina robust and/or encrypted manner that prevents a user from deleting,modifying, tampering, and the like, with the application'sfunctionality. In this regard, the wireless service application 114, forexample, can provide one or more wireless service card input options, asdepicted in subsequent screen 250. The functionality of the wirelessservice application 114 is further described below in greater detail.

FIG. 3 illustrates a wireless service card having a machine-readablecode in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure. FIG. 3 shows awireless service card 300 used for adding wireless service for thewireless device 100. The wireless service card 300 may have a generallyrectangular flat form factor card having a first surface and opposingsecond surface. In an aspect of the disclosure, the wireless servicecard 300 may include an activation code 312 included on the wirelessservice card 300 in order to activate one or more services for thewireless device 100. The activation code 312 may be located under ascratch-off panel (not shown) and can be manually entered into thewireless device 100 using the graphical user interface 120.

The wireless service card 300 may also include a machine-readableactivation code 399 included on the wireless service card 300 in orderto activate and/or add one or more services for the wireless device 100.The machine-readable activation code 399 may be located under ascratch-off panel (not shown) and captured as an image with the camera138. In one aspect, the machine-readable activation code 399 may be abarcode. In another aspect, the machine-readable activation code 399 maybe a QR code as shown in FIG. 3.

The activation code 312 and the machine-readable activation code 399 maybe associated with a pre-paid predetermined amount of credit for one ormore wireless services. A product code 314 may also be included on thewireless service card 300 so that the retail store or point of salelocation can keep track of the wireless service card 300 as part of itsinventory. Moreover, the product code 314 may be sent to a databaseassociated with the MVNO by the retail store or point of sale locationto indicate wireless services have been purchased in association withthe product code 314. As should be understood, the machine-readableactivation code 399, the activation code 312, the product code 314 andany other codes and the like can be a series of numbers, letters,symbols and a combination thereof, and/or may be in the form of a barcode. In particular, the machine-readable activation code 399 may useany current or future format, protocol, or the like to bemachine-readable.

Turning back to FIG. 2, the wireless service application 114 may provideone or more wireless service card 300 input options as depicted insubsequent screen 250. When a wireless user is in possession of thewireless service card 300, the wireless user may launch the wirelessservice application 114. The wireless service application 114 mayprovide directions 252 stating, for example: “If you have a card eitherenter your airtime PIN or scan your airtime QR.” Of course thedirections 252 may include any wording guiding the wireless user or nowording at all.

In one aspect, the wireless service application 114 may provide imagesof a wireless card 254 showing a QR code and a wireless card 256 showingan alpha numeric code (PIN). The images are exemplary, any imagesconsistent with the wireless service card 300 may be utilized. Moreover,the wireless service application 114 may provide no images.

The wireless service application 114 may provide a scan button 258 thatenables the camera 138 to capture the machine-readable activation code399 of the wireless service card 300. Of course, other implementationsto enable the camera 138 to capture the machine-readable activation code399 are contemplated as well. Once the user captures themachine-readable activation code 399 of the wireless service card 300,the wireless service application 114 may indicate successful capture.Thereafter, the wireless service application 114 may allow the wirelessuser to confirm use of the associated wireless service associated withmachine-readable activation code 399 by pressing an “OK” button 268 orsimilar type of confirmation.

In another aspect, the wireless service application 114 may furtherprovide an input box 266 to receive from the user a manually input alphanumeric code (PIN) from the wireless service card 300. Of course, otherimplementations to receive from the user a manually input alpha numericcode (PIN) from the wireless service card 300 are contemplated as well.Once the user inputs the activation code 312 of the wireless servicecard 300, the wireless service application 114 may indicate successfulinput. Thereafter, the wireless service application 114 may allow thewireless user to confirm use of the associated wireless serviceassociated with the activation code 312 by pressing an “OK” button 268or similar type of confirmation.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary process, which may be used to implementscanning a machine-readable code in accordance with aspects of thedisclosure. In particular, FIG. 4 illustrates a process 600 of thewireless service application 114. According to box 602, the wirelessservice application 114 may be displayed on the home screen 210 of thewireless device 100. After execution by the user, the wireless serviceapplication 114 may display the subsequent screen 250. In this regard,the home screen 210 may include a shortcut application for the wirelessservice application 114. Alternatively, the wireless service application114 may be located under an applications tab or the like. In anexemplary aspect, the subsequent screen 250 directly follows the homescreen 210 which displays the wireless service application 114.

Next, the process queries whether the user has selected to add wirelessservice in box 604. The user may access the add wireless servicefunctionality automatically, by tapping the input field 270, or thelike. If the application process concludes in the affirmative,respective fields are displayed as shown in 250 of FIG. 2 prompting theuser to scan the machine-readable activation code 399 or input theactivation code 312 as shown in box 606. On the other hand, if theprocess concludes in the negative, the process is returned to box 604.

As illustrated by box 608, the process 600 may determine that the userwants to add wireless service by scanning the machine-readableactivation code 399. Thereafter, in box 612 the camera 138 may beenabled to capture the machine-readable activation code 399 of thewireless service card 300. As illustrated by box 610, the process 600may determine that the user wants to add wireless service by inputtingthe activation code 312. Thereafter, in box 614 the wireless serviceapplication 114 may receive the activation code 312 of the wirelessservice card 300. Finally, each of the above-noted aspects maythereafter transmit the machine-readable activation code 399 or theactivation code 312 to one or more of the MNO or MVNO as detailed below.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a schematic diagram of an exemplary wirelessservice system according to aspects of the disclosure is depicted. Inparticular, the wireless service system 400 can be used to activate,provision, and/or provide wireless network service(s) on the wirelessdevice 100 implementing various aspects of the wireless service card300, using the activation code 312 and/or the machine-readableactivation code 399. Unlike conventional activation processes forwireless devices that can require a user 412 to contact a live customerservice representative, utilize an interactive voice response systemfrom a landline or another wireless device, or access an Internetwebsite by the user 412 to use a website activation system, the presentwireless service system 400 may be used to activate a wireless device100 and/or activate services with automated code/information gatheringand without requiring access to an agent, or a website.

According to aspects of the disclosure, the activated service(s) mayinclude, for example, activation of a wireless service after or duringthe initial activation of the wireless device 100 by a user 412. Theinitial activation of the wireless device 100 may be described herein as“out of the box” activation and may take place at the point-of-sale 420.In some additional aspects, the services requested to be activated andauthorized are one or combinations of: airtime, text messaging, and dataplans, but may also include at least one of device upgrades, devicereactivations, wireless number changes, and wireless number porting forwireless devices that have previously been activated.

According to some aspects of the disclosure, the point-of-sale 420 caninclude, for example, a store retailer, a vending machine, a kiosk, aweb-based retailer, and the like. In an aspect of the disclosure, thewireless service card 300, may both include the activation code 312 andthe machine-readable activation code 399. When the user is ready to usethe wireless service card 300, he can simply enter the activation code312 or capture the machine-readable activation code 399 into thewireless device 100 using the graphical user interface 120. Then throughthe graphical user interface 120 or touchscreen 122, the user 412 canactivate the wireless device 100 using the wireless service application114. In one aspect, the wireless service application 114 communicateswith the wireless provider backend system 422 through a cell tower 416.Then the wireless provider backend system 422 authenticates andauthorizes the predetermined amount of talk time, text, or data or acombination thereof based on the activation code 312 or themachine-readable activation code 399. The wireless provider backendsystem 422 may be implemented with a server.

The point-of-sale 420 may also include a communication system 425 thatcan be used for payment and/or executing security and activationprotocols. The communication system 425 may also be configured to be incommunication with a wireless provider backend system 422.

Referring now to FIG. 6, an exemplary method that may be used toimplement systems of the disclosure, are depicted in a flowchart 500. Inparticular, the method includes ways in which a user can provide anactivation code 312 or the machine-readable activation code 399 locatedwith the wireless service card 300, to add and/or activate one or morewireless service(s) on the wireless device 100. At box 502, the userprovides an activation code 312 in the form of a code (letters, numbers,symbols or combination thereof) manually entered using the graphicaluser interface 120 or the machine-readable activation code 399 that wascaptured by the camera 138. The activation code 312 or themachine-readable activation code 399 may include a programmed identifierthat can correspond to a wireless provider selection and one or morewireless services to be activated. It is contemplated that additionalcodes may be included for additional services and amounts, securitycodes, as well as for production data for statistical analysis performedby the wireless provider, as it may be desired. Each of the codes may bea series of digits including letters, symbols, and/or numbers.

At box 504, the activation code 312 or the machine-readable activationcode 399 can be received by the wireless device 100. If received by thewireless device 100, then the wireless device 100 can transmit theactivation code to the cell tower 416, which then relays the code to thewireless provider backend system 422 for authentication.

At box 508, the activation code 312 or the machine-readable activationcode 399 along with the wireless device 100 information may be receivedby the wireless provider backend system 422 where it can verify theauthentication code by searching in one or more databases 506.Alternatively, the database can be preloaded on the wireless device 100and the activation code 312 or the machine-readable activation code 399is authenticated by the wireless device 100 through the wireless serviceactivation application. If the activation code 312 or themachine-readable activation code 399 is not valid, the activation of thewireless service will be stopped at box 512. Upon stopping theactivation of the wireless service as shown in box 512, the wirelessprovider backend system 422 may send a warning message to the user 412(e.g., using the wireless device 100) and/or the wireless provider andproceed back to box 502 and wait for the valid authentication code to beprovided. If the activation code 312 or the machine-readable activationcode 399 is valid (authentic, not been previously used, or the like),authorization of a wireless service may take place at box 516. At box518, the use of the activated wireless service may be monitored todetermine when the activated wireless service has been depleted by theuser 412. At box 520 the process ends.

It should be noted that aspects of the disclosure may also beimplemented in a web-based transaction. In this regard, a user maypurchase an activation code 312 and/or a machine-readable activationcode 399 in order to activate and/or add one or more services for thewireless device 100 during a web-based transaction. Once the transactionis completed, the user can obtain a screen activation code 312 and/or ascreen machine-readable activation code 399. Thereafter, the user canuse the activation code 312 and/or the machine-readable activation code399 as noted above. Alternatively, once the transaction is completed,the user can scan the machine-readable activation code 399 directly fromthe display device, such as a PC, laptop, etc., where the transactionwas completed with the wireless device 100.

In an alternative aspect, the wireless service card 300 may beimplemented as a gift card, a monetary value card, or the like providedby one or more entities including a MNO, a MVNO, the Android Store, theBlackberry Store, the Windows Store, the Amazon Store, Apple iTunes,eCards, ApplePay, Samsung Pay, Android Pay, and the like. Accordingly, amachine-readable activation code 399 may be associated with a pre-paidpredetermined amount of credit for one of these entities. In thisalternative aspect, the wireless service application 114 may beimplemented as a funding application to fund the account for one of theabove-noted entities. The fund application may be configured to providefunding based on interaction with a backend system that is implementedin a manner similar to the wireless provider backend system 422 (shownin FIG. 5) and/or an activation code, such as a bar code, QR code or analpha numeric code, for providing funding to one of the above noted thatthese.

In this alternative aspect, the process similar to the process 600 maydetermine that the user wants to fund an account by scanning themachine-readable activation code. Thereafter, the camera 138 may beenabled to capture the machine-readable activation code of the card.Thereafter, the application may receive the activation code of the card.Finally, each of the above-noted aspects may thereafter transmit themachine-readable activation code to a backend system of one of theentities noted above.

Accordingly, the disclosure provides a device and associated methods forproviding wireless services on wireless devices by implementing amachine readable code with a wireless service card and/or utilizing adevice that reads the machine readable code from a wireless servicecard. Additionally, the disclosure provides a device and associatedmethods for providing funds for an entity by implementing a machinereadable code with a card and/or utilizing a device that reads themachine readable code from a card. Thus, the disclosure improves acustomer experience by using machine-readable wireless service cards.This makes it easier for customers who have a difficult time or cannotread numbers, reduces the time it takes to refill an account, eliminatesnumber entry errors, and the like.

Aspects of the disclosure may include communication channels that may beany type of wired or wireless electronic communications network, suchas, e.g., a wired/wireless local area network (LAN), a wired/wirelesspersonal area network (PAN), a wired/wireless home area network (HAN), awired/wireless wide area network (WAN), a campus network, a metropolitannetwork, an enterprise private network, a virtual private network (VPN),an internetwork, a backbone network (BBN), a global area network (GAN),the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, an overlay network, Near fieldcommunication (NFC), a cellular telephone network, a PersonalCommunications Service (PCS), using known protocols such as the GlobalSystem for Mobile Communications (GSM), CDMA (Code-Division MultipleAccess), GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA network technologies, Long TermEvolution (LTE), 5G (5th generation mobile networks or 5th generationwireless systems), WiMAX, HSPA+, W-CDMA (Wideband Code-Division MultipleAccess), CDMA2000 (also known as C2K or IMT Multi-Carrier (IMT-MC)),Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth, and/or the like, and/or acombination of two or more thereof. The NFC standards covercommunications protocols and data exchange formats, and are based onexisting radio-frequency identification (RFID) standards includingISO/IEC 14443 and FeliCa. The standards include ISO/IEC 18092 and thosedefined by the NFC Forum.

Aspects of the disclosure may be implemented in any type of computingdevices, such as, e.g., a desktop computer, personal computer, alaptop/mobile computer, a personal data assistant (PDA), a mobile phone,a tablet computer, cloud computing device, and the like, withwired/wireless communications capabilities via the communicationchannels.

Aspects of the disclosure may be web-based. For example, a server mayoperate a web application in conjunction with a database. The webapplication may be hosted in a browser-controlled environment (e.g., aJava applet and/or the like), coded in a browser-supported language(e.g., JavaScript combined with a browser-rendered markup language(e.g., Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) and/or the like)) and/or thelike such that any computer running a common web browser (e.g., InternetExplorer™, Firefox™, Chrome™, Safari™ or the like) may render theapplication executable. A web-based service may be more beneficial dueto the ubiquity of web browsers and the convenience of using a webbrowser as a client (i.e., thin client). Further, with inherent supportfor cross-platform compatibility, the web application may be maintainedand updated without distributing and installing software on each.

Aspects of the disclosure may be implemented in any type of mobilesmartphones that are operated by any type of advanced mobile dataprocessing and communication operating system, such as, e.g., an Apple™iOS™ operating system, a Google™ Android™ operating system, a RIM™Blackberry™ operating system, a Nokia™ Symbian™ operating system, aMicrosoft™ Windows Mobile™ operating system, a Microsoft™ Windows Phone™operating system, a Linux™ operating system or the like.

Further in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure, themethods described herein are intended for operation with dedicatedhardware implementations including, but not limited to, PCs, PDAs,semiconductors, application specific integrated circuits (ASIC),programmable logic arrays, cloud computing devices, and other hardwaredevices constructed to implement the methods described herein.

It should also be noted that the software implementations of thedisclosure as described herein are optionally stored on a tangiblestorage medium, such as: a magnetic medium such as a disk or tape; amagneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk; or a solid statemedium such as a memory card or other package that houses one or moreread-only (non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or otherre-writable (volatile) memories. A digital file attachment to email orother self-contained information archive or set of archives isconsidered a distribution medium equivalent to a tangible storagemedium. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include a tangiblestorage medium or distribution medium, as listed herein and includingart-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which the softwareimplementations herein are stored.

Additionally, the various aspects of the disclosure may be implementedin a non-generic computer implementation. Moreover, the various aspectsof the disclosure set forth herein improve the functioning of the systemas is apparent from the disclosure hereof. Furthermore, the variousaspects of the disclosure involve computer hardware that it specificallyprogrammed to solve the complex problem addressed by the disclosure.Accordingly, the various aspects of the disclosure improve thefunctioning of the system overall in its specific implementation toperform the process set forth by the disclosure and as defined by theclaims.

Aspects of the disclosure may include a server executing an instance ofan application or software configured to accept requests from a clientand giving responses accordingly. The server may run on any computerincluding dedicated computers. The computer may include at least oneprocessing element, typically a central processing unit (CPU), and someform of memory. The processing element may carry out arithmetic andlogic operations, and a sequencing and control unit may change the orderof operations in response to stored information. The server may includeperipheral devices that may allow information to be retrieved from anexternal source, and the result of operations saved and retrieved. Theserver may operate within a client-server architecture. The server mayperform some tasks on behalf of clients. The clients may connect to theserver through the network on a communication channel as defined herein.The server may use memory with error detection and correction, redundantdisks, redundant power supplies and so on.

The many features and advantages of the disclosure are apparent from thedetailed specification, and, thus, it is intended by the appended claimsto cover all such features and advantages of the disclosure, which fallwithin the true spirit, and scope of the disclosure. Further, sincenumerous modifications and variations will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to theexact construction and operation illustrated and described, and,accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto that fall within the scope of the disclosure.

1. A process for authorizing wireless service for a wireless device, theprocess comprising: providing an application executable on a wirelessdevice, the application configured to control the wireless device tocapture a machine-readable wireless service activation code using acamera associated with the wireless device, the machine-readablewireless service activation code is configured to authorize the wirelessservice when provided to a wireless service provider system, and themachine-readable wireless service activation code configured torepresent a prepaid amount of wireless service; receiving in response tothe application the machine-readable wireless service activation codealong with wireless device identification information from the wirelessdevice, and the machine-readable wireless service activation code beingcaptured by the camera of the wireless device; provisioning the prepaidamount of wireless service to the wireless device identified by thewireless device identification information from a wireless network whenthe machine-readable wireless service activation code along withwireless device identification information is provided to the wirelessservice provider system associated with the wireless network; monitoringand determining an amount of the prepaid amount of wireless serviceprovided by the wireless service provider system and used by thewireless device with an accounting device; and controlling a use of thewireless service provided by the wireless service provider system andused by the wireless device with the accounting device based on theamount of the prepaid amount of wireless service used by the wirelessdevice, wherein the machine-readable wireless service activation codecomprises at least one of the following: a bar code, a QR code, a DataMatrix (DM) code, or a Universal Product Code (UPC).
 2. The process ofclaim 1, wherein the machine-readable wireless service activation codecomprises the QR code, wherein the QR code is arranged on a card with ascratch off panel arranged thereover.
 3. The process of claim 1, whereinthe wireless service includes at least one of the following: wirelessdata, text messaging, or wireless talk time.
 4. The process of claim 1,wherein: the wireless service provider system is implemented at least inpart by the wireless device; the accounting device comprises an internalaccounting device implemented by the wireless device; and the processfurther comprises: monitoring a use of the wireless service provided bythe wireless service provider system used by the wireless device withthe internal accounting device implemented by the wireless device; andcontrolling the use of the wireless service provided by the wirelessservice provider system used by the wireless device in response to theinternal accounting device implemented by the wireless device.
 5. Theprocess of claim 4, further comprising: generating a graphical userinterface on a display of the wireless device in response to executionof the application, the graphical user interface comprising an input toinitiate capturing the machine-readable wireless service activation codein response to a user's initiation.
 6. The process of claim 4, wherein:the machine-readable wireless service activation code comprises the QRcode; the QR code is arranged on a card with a scratch off panelarranged thereover; and the wireless service includes at least one ofthe following: wireless data, text messaging, or wireless talk time. 7.The process of claim 1, wherein: the wireless service provider system isimplemented at least in part by a wireless provider backend system; theaccounting device is implemented at least in part by the wirelessprovider backend system; and the process further comprising:transmitting in response to the application the machine-readablewireless service activation code along with the wireless deviceidentification information from the wireless device over a network tothe wireless service provider system; monitoring a use of the wirelessservice provided by the wireless service provider system used by thewireless device with the wireless provider backend system; andcontrolling the use of the wireless service provided by the wirelessservice provider system used by the wireless device with the wirelessprovider backend system.
 8. The process of claim 7, further comprising:generating a graphical user interface on a display of the wirelessdevice in response to execution of the application, the graphical userinterface comprising an input to initiate capturing the machine-readablewireless service activation code in response to a user's initiation. 9.The process of claim 7, wherein: the machine-readable wireless serviceactivation code comprises the QR code; the QR code is arranged on a cardwith a scratch off panel arranged thereover; and the wireless serviceincludes at least one of the following: wireless data, text messaging,or wireless talk time.
 10. A wireless device configured for initiatingauthorization of wireless service comprising: a camera configured tocapture a machine-readable wireless service activation code, wherein themachine-readable wireless service activation code is configured toauthorize a wireless service when provided to a wireless serviceprovider system associated with a wireless service provider, themachine-readable wireless service activation code configured torepresent a prepaid amount of wireless service; a processor configuredto execute an application, the application being executable by theprocessor and configured to capture the machine-readable wirelessservice activation code using the camera; the processor furtherconfigured to receive in response to the application themachine-readable wireless service activation code along with wirelessdevice identification information from the wireless device and store themachine-readable wireless service activation code captured by the camerain a memory, and the memory further configured to store wireless deviceidentification information; the processor further configured to providethe prepaid amount of wireless service from a wireless network when themachine-readable wireless service activation code along with thewireless device identification information is provided to the wirelessservice provider system associated with the wireless network, whereinthe machine-readable wireless service activation code is configured toauthorize the wireless service when provided to the wireless serviceprovider system associated with a wireless service provider and themachine-readable wireless service activation code represents a prepaidamount of wireless service; wherein the camera is further configured tocapture the machine-readable wireless service activation code; andwherein the machine-readable wireless service activation code comprisesat least one of the following: a bar code, a QR code, a Data Matrix (DM)code, or a Universal Product Code (UPC).
 11. The wireless device ofclaim 10, wherein: the wireless service provider system is implementedat least in part by the wireless device; the wireless service providersystem is configured to monitor a use of the wireless service providedby the wireless service provider system used by the wireless device; andthe wireless service provider system is configured to control the use ofthe wireless service provided by the wireless service provider systemused by the wireless device.
 12. The wireless device of claim 11,wherein: the machine-readable wireless service activation code comprisesthe QR code; wherein the QR code is arranged on a card with a scratchoff panel arranged thereover; and the wireless service includes at leastone of the following: wireless data, text messaging, or wireless talktime.
 13. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the wireless serviceprovider system is further configured to control a use of the wirelessservice provided by the wireless service provider used by the wirelessdevice based on an amount of the prepaid amount of wireless service usedby the wireless device.
 14. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein theapplication is further configured to generate a graphical user interfacein response to execution of the application, the graphical userinterface comprising an input to initiate capturing the machine-readablewireless service activation code.
 15. The wireless device of claim 10,further comprising: a transceiver configured to transmit themachine-readable wireless service activation code from the memory alongwith the wireless device identification information over a network tothe wireless service provider system, wherein the wireless serviceprovider system is implemented at least in part by a wireless providerbackend system; wherein the wireless service provider system isconfigured to monitor a use of the wireless service provided by thewireless service provider system used by the wireless device; andwherein the wireless service provider system is configured to controlthe use of the wireless service provided by the wireless serviceprovider system used by the wireless device.
 16. The wireless device ofclaim 15, wherein: the machine-readable wireless service activation codecomprises the QR code; the QR code is arranged on a card with a scratchoff panel arranged thereover; and the wireless service includes at leastone of the following: wireless data, text messaging, or wireless talktime.
 17. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein the application isfurther configured to generate a graphical user interface in response toexecution of the application, the graphical user interface comprising aninput to initiate capturing the machine-readable wireless serviceactivation code.
 18. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein thewireless service provider system is further configured to control a useof the wireless service provided by the wireless service provider usedby the wireless device based on an amount of the prepaid amount ofwireless service used by the wireless device.
 19. The wireless device ofclaim 10, wherein: the machine-readable wireless service activation codecomprises the QR code; and the QR code is arranged on a card with ascratch off panel arranged thereover.
 20. The wireless device of claim10, wherein the wireless service includes at least one of the following:wireless data, text messaging, or wireless talk time.